Filling needle for dispensing a pharmaceutical liquid into a container, and filling device

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling needle ( 10; 10 a - 10 g ) for dispensing a pharmaceutical liquid ( 1 ) into a container ( 2 ), comprising a preferably rod-shaped filling needle body ( 12; 12 a; 12 b; 12 d; 12 f; 12 g ) in which a product feed bore ( 13 ) is formed, having at least one, preferably a plurality of product outlet bores ( 16; 16 a to 16 d ) which extends from the product feed bore ( 13 ) and opens on an outer wall of the filling needle body ( 12; 12 a; 12 b; 12 d; 12 f; 12 g ) into a region which is spaced apart from a filling needle body end ( 25; 25 b; 25 c ) with respect to a longitudinal axis ( 18 ) of the filling needle body ( 12; 12 a; 12 b; 12 d; 12 f; 12 g ), and having a valve element ( 14; 14 b; 14 c; 14 d; 14 e; 14 g ) which is made of an elastic material which covers the filling needle body ( 12; 12 a; 12 b; 12 d; 12 f; 12 g ) at least in the region of the at least one product outlet bore ( 16; 16 a to 16 d ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A filling needle ( 10 ;  10   a  to  10   g ) for dispensing a pharmaceutical liquid ( 1 ) into a container ( 2 ), the filling needle ( 10 ,  10   a  to  10   g ) comprising a filling needle body ( 12 ;  12   a ;  12   b ;  12   d ;  12   f ;  12   g ) in which a product feed bore ( 13 ) is formed, the filling needle ( 10 ,  10   a  to  10   g ) having at least one product outlet bore ( 16 ;  16   a  to  16   d ) communicating with the product feed bore ( 13 ) and opening to an outside of the filling needle body ( 12 ;  12   a ;  12   b ;  12   d ;  12   f ;  12   g ) in a region which is spaced apart from a filling needle body end ( 25 ;  25   b ;  25   c ) with respect to a longitudinal axis ( 18 ) of the filling needle body ( 12 ;  12   a ;  12   b ;  12   d ;  12   f ;  12   g ), and having a valve element ( 14 ;  14   b ;  14   c ;  14   d ;  14   e ;  14   g ) which is made of an elastic material and which covers the filling needle body ( 12 ;  12   a ;  12   b ;  12   d ;  12   f ;  12   g ) at least in the region of the at least one product outlet bore ( 16 ;  16   a  to  16   d ), and which opens the at least one product outlet bore ( 16 ;  16   a  to  16   d ) to dispense liquid ( 1 ) when a certain positive pressure is reached in the product outlet bore ( 16 ;  16   a  to  16   d ), and closes the at least one product outlet bore ( 16 ;  16   a  to  16   d ) when the pressure falls below said certain positive pressure. 
     
     
       2. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the cross-section of the filling needle body ( 12 ;  12   a ;  12   b ;  12   d ;  12   f ;  12   g ) is circular at least in the region of the at least one product outlet bore ( 16 ;  16   a  to  16   d ). 
     
     
       3. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that when a plurality of product outlet bores ( 16 ;  16   a  to  16   d ) is used, their respective outlets open in the outer wall of the filling needle body ( 12 ;  12   a ;  12   b ;  12   d ;  12   f ;  12   g ) at uniform angular intervals about the longitudinal axis ( 18 ). 
     
     
       4. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that when a plurality of product outlet bores ( 16   b ) is used, their respective outlets open into at least two different regions in the outer wall of the filling needle body ( 12   b ) with respect to the longitudinal axis ( 18 ). 
     
     
       5. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the valve element ( 14 ;  14   b ) is sleeve-shaped and projects beyond the filling needle body end ( 25 ;  25   b ) as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis ( 18 ). 
     
     
       6. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the valve element ( 14   c ;  14   d ) is sleeve-shaped, in that the filling needle body end ( 25   c ) is conical, and in that the valve element ( 14   c ;  14   d ) ends in the conical region of the filling needle body end ( 25   c ) as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis ( 18 ). 
     
     
       7. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one outlet of a product outlet bore ( 16   c ) is formed in a region of a cross-sectional taper ( 20   c ) of the filling needle body ( 12 ) which runs radially about the longitudinal axis ( 18 ). 
     
     
       8. The filling needle according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the cross-sectional taper ( 20   c ) is in the form of an annular groove ( 27 ). 
     
     
       9. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one product outlet bore ( 16   a ) is formed in a component ( 23 ) which is separate from the filling needle body ( 12 ) and serves as a closure for the filling needle body ( 12 ), in that the outlet of the at least one product outlet bore ( 16   a ) is formed in a region of a cross-sectional taper ( 20   a ) running radially around the component ( 23 ) about the longitudinal axis ( 18 ), and in that the cross-sectional taper ( 20   a ) has a rounded cross-section. 
     
     
       10. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the valve element ( 14 ;  14   b ;  14   c ;  14   d ;  14   e ;  14   g ) is fastened to the filling needle body ( 12 ;  12   a ;  12   b ;  12   d ;  12   f ;  12   g ) by a separate fastening element ( 36 ;  36 ) or a positive connection. 
     
     
       11. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the valve element ( 14 ;  14   b ;  14   c ;  14   d ;  14   e ;  14   g ) is made of a product-repellent material or is provided with a product-repellent coating on an inner side facing the filling needle body ( 12 ;  12   a ;  12   b ;  12   d ;  12   f ;  12   g ). 
     
     
       12. A filling device ( 100 ) having at least one filling needle ( 10 ;  10   a  to  10   g ) according to  claim 1 , and having means for sucking back liquid ( 1 ) in the filling needle body ( 12 ;  12   a ;  12   b ;  12   d ;  12   f ;  12   g ). 
     
     
       13. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one product outlet bore ( 16 ;  16   a  to  16   d ) includes a plurality of product outlet bores ( 16 ;  16   a  to  16   d ). 
     
     
       14. The filling needle according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the filling needle body ( 12 ;  12 :  12   b ;  12   d ;  12   f ;  12   g ) is rod-shaped.